Container binder



May 15,

J. H. OPPENHEIM CONTAI NER BINDER 2 sheetssheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1926 May 15, 1928.

J; H. OPPENHEIM CONTAINER BINDER Filed Aus- 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS H. OPPENHEIM, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNO R TO I TEXAS LOUISIANA PATENTS COMPANY, OF D ALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATIONQOF DELAW'ARE.

CONTAINER BINDER.

Application filed August 17, 1926. Serial No. 129,810.

This invention relates to new and useful means for reinforcing the corners and edges of containers, as well as for enclosing the same within a metal frame, whereby the container may be secured together without the use of nails, screws, or other fasteners, and also whereby its corners and edges are protected from rupture during transportation .and the strength of the container greatly increased.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a metal binder of a simple nature, which maybe easily and economically applied to a container and securely fastened thereon without the aid of nails, screws or other fastening devices and which, when assembled, will form a substantially integral enclosin 7 frame. giving to the container greatly increased rigidity and ruggedness as well as symmetry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a binder corner unit, which may be formed from .a single sheet of metal, thus reducing the cost of production as well as the number of operations required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a binder comprising a plurality of corner units and interposed connecting members having their ends locked in the corner units in a simple and efiicient manner and co-acting with said corner units to form a reinforcing frame.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understoodfrom a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a binder constructed in accordance with my invention and applied to a container,

Fig. 2is a plan view of the blank from which the corner unit is formed,

Fig. 3 is a plan view .of oneof the corner I units, y

Fig. isan isometrical view showing the inner sides of a'corner of the binder,

Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the connecting members,

Fig. '6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the fastening, and

form.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a corner unit' or member including three right-angular arms 11, 12, and 13 respectively. Each arm receives one end of a connecting member 14, which is telescoped thereinto. The arms and connecting members are right-angular in cross-section, thus affording maximum strength.

One of the novel features is the construction of the corner unit. In Fig. 2 I have shown the blank sheet of metal A, from which the unit is formed. This blank has a l shape, and the stem B for forming the arm is preferably made shorter than the other arms, because as is shown in Fig. 1, the arm 13 is used .on the vertical edges of the container and is not subjected to the transverse strain ordinarily imposed on the arms ll and 12, therefore material can be saved by shortening the arm 13.

The blank is scored along marginal lines C to provide portions which may be bent inwardly upon the'blank to provide overhanging flanges 15. To facilitate the bending of these flanges, the blank has slits D at the intersections of the stem B and the body. The blanl'; is scored longitudinally along the line E and is bent on this line at right-angles. vided with a transverse line F on which it is bent at right-angles. In order to bend the blank on the line F, it is provided with a slit 16 extending inwardly to the interblank is folded on the line F, the inner end of the arm 12 will overlap the inner end of the arm 11, the flanges being cut out at 17 so that the arms may overlap is shown in Fig. 3; The overlapped portions of the arms are suitably brazed, welded or otherwise secured as an integral structure.

A corner unit thus formed may be quickly and economically produced and is superior to a unit formed of more than one piece. The flanges are open sufficiently for the members 14 to telescope thereinto and the ends of these members are provided with points 18 to facilitate inserting the same in the ends of the arms. I I

In producing the blank A, slots 19%are formed at its ends on opposite sides of the lines E and F; TonguesQO are cut to .ex tend into the slots and are bent so that Fig. 7 isan isometrical view of a modified- It is also pro their ends will extend inwardly when the arms are formed and engage teeth or sumps be readily stamped from sheet metal and produced at low cost. I prefer to provide only a few teeth at each end of the members to provide enough teeth to take upthe slack when the connecting members are locked in the arms; however, I do not wish to be limited to such an arrangement and a greater number of teethmay be provided if desired- The binderslmay be made to fit particular sizes of containers and usually they willbe so constructed.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form in which the arm 13 is free from the slots 19 and tongues 20. This permits the arms 13 to be disconnected from the vertical members 14, and thus the top of the container maybe removed. This modified formis particularly useful for containers in which crackers, cakes and other artlcles are shipped and sold from the conta ner.

In using the binder, a unit 10 is provided for each corner of the container, andthe connectingmembers 14 are disposed along each edge of the container and inserted in the arms 11, 12 and 13, the parts being pressed together so that the tongues 20 engage in the teeth 21, thus locking the parts in position andforming a reinforcing frame completely surrounding the container. When the binder is once looked on the container it can be removed only by first prying up the tongues 20 so as to release the connecting members 14. In applying the 4o binder to a container, four corner unitsand connectmgmembers are first assembled as a a rectangular frame, with the armslB ex tending upwardly. The container is then placed in this frame and the vertical memhere 14 are then inserted in the arms 13. The top frame is then made by assembling four units 10 and four members 14., and this is placed on top of the container with the upper ends of the vertical members telescoping into the depending arms 13. Any slack may then be taken .up by compressing the binder soas to further telescope the members lel into the arms. i

' It is pointed out that .the binder may be used on most any kind of box or container, and thelatter may be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal fibre card board, etc. The container may be constructed of panel pieces without fastening devices and securely held together and adequately protected by the binder. The reinforced container is almost indestructible and its strength is greatly increased, thus permitting rough handling and high stacking Without fear of collapsing. It is apparent wings of the former.

the different. parts, as 'well as'modifications and alterations, may bemade within the scope of the appended claims. 14 and not to makethe binder adjustable to different sizes of containers, but merely corner units each comprising oppositely di-' rected arms, fconnecting members telescop Various changes in the size and shape of ing the arms of adjacent units, and means for. automatically locking the endsof the members to the arms when the former telescope the latter.

. 2. In a container binder, a plurality of corner units each comprising oppositely directed arms having inturned margmal flanges and fastening felements, and connecting members having their ends telescoping'the arms and their edges engaging in the flanges thereof, themembers having provision at their-ends for receiving the fastoning. elements, whereby the members and arms are fastened together. i

3. As a sub-combination in axcontainer binder, a corner unit formed from a single sheet of metal being. bent at right. angles along lines at right angles to each other and slit to permit inner ends of the'longitudinal the transverse member, marginal flanges formed along edges 0fthennit,andfasten ing tongues upset from theunit.

i members to overlap at the intersection with two sets of cornerbrackets, each bracketof each set comprising transverse arms and a longitudinal arm, each arm beingin; the form of an angle member including rectangularly disposed flanges, each arm of each corner bracket being disposed at right an les to the other armsofthe samebracket, the flanges of each arm of each angle bracket having trough-shaped longitudinally extended over hanging wings, extension pieces joining the corresponding transverse arms of the corner.

brackets of each set, and extension pieces joining thelongitudinal arms of corresponds ing corner brackets of ,the respective sets,

each extension piece comprising rectan ularly disposed flanges slidably engaged or adjustment with the wings of the arms wherewith each extensionpiece co-operates, and means for efi'ecting a locking engagement between the arms and the extension pieces when thelatter are telescoped intothe 5. A shipping container binder embodyin two sets of cornerbrackets, each bracket 0 each set comprising. transverse arms anda longitudinal arm, each arm being in the form of an angle member including rectangularly disposed flanges, each arm of each corner bracket being disposed at right angles to the ther arms of the same bracket, the flanges of each arm of each angle bracket having trough-shaped longitudinally extended overhanging wings, extension pieces joining the corresponding transverse arms of the corner brackets of each set, and extension pieces joining the longitudinal arms of corresponding corner brackets of the respective sets, each extension piece comprising rectangularly disposed flanges slidably engaged for adjustment with the Wings of the arms, wherewith each extension piece co-operates, and means for ellecting a step by step adjustment between the extension pieces and the arms, in a direction longitudinally of the extension pieces and the arms, said means and the wings constituting the sole mechanism for holding the binder in place on a container.

6. A shipping container binder, constructed as set forth in claim 5, and further characterized by the fact that the means for effecting a step by step adjustment embodies racks on the extension pieces, and resilient pawls on the arms, the pawls being releasably engaged with the racks.

7. Means for assembling and holding loose panels in box form, comprising a binder framing enveloping the assembled panel pieces and universally adjustable to adapt it to the size and shape of the container, and means carried by the individual members of the framing for inter-engaging and locking to prevent separation and resist twisting. v

8. A box binder comprising a binder frame for enveloping the box and universally adjustable to adapt it to the size and shape of the container, and means carried by the individual members of the framing for interengaging and locking to preventseparation and resist twisting.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JULIUS H. OPPENHEIM. 

